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Cold Case Investigations and Forensic DNA

Overview of Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases

Experience has shown that cold case programs can solve a substantial number of violent crime cold cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. Advances in DNA technologies have substantially increased the successful DNA analysis of aged, degraded, limited, or otherwise compromised biological evidence. As a result, crime scene samples once thought to be unsuitable for testing may now yield DNA profiles. Additionally, samples that previously generated inconclusive DNA results may now be successfully analyzed. To this end, the National Institute of Justice seeks to assist law enforcement agencies by developing their knowledge base, affording them opportunities to use forensic laboratories for the DNA analysis of cold case evidence, and aiding in the subsequent investigation to solve cold cases.

What NIJ Funds

NIJ's Solving Cold Cases With DNA program offers funds to States and units of local government to identify, review and investigate Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Part 1 Violent Crime[1] cold cases that have the potential to be solved through DNA analysis. For the purpose of this program, a "violent crime cold case" refers to any unsolved UCR Part 1 Violent Crime case for which all significant investigative leads have been exhausted. The funds can be used to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these cases, as well as conduct CODIS hit follow-up travel and investigations. The Solving Cold Cases With DNA program has been offered for six years, with the first solicitation offered in 2005, then offered every fiscal year from 2007 to 2011 through a competitive award process.